Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A relay device comprising: a use request receiver configured to receive a use request to use a service to be provided by a service providing device from a client device; a determiner configured to determine whether a user who requests the use request belongs to the relay device; an allocation amount information obtainer configured to obtain, in a case in which the user belongs to the relay device, allocation amount information stored in the relay device; an allocation request sender configured to send, in a case in which the user does not belong to the relay device, an allocation request to allocate a usage amount of the service based on a usage amount indicated by usage amount information specified by the use request received by the use request receiver to a different relay device; an allocated amount receiver configured to receive allocated amount information indicating an allocated usage amount for the service sent from the different relay device in response to the allocation request; a generator configured to generate return information from the allocated amount information received from the allocated amount receiver and a usage amount of the service; and a return information sender configured to send the return information generated by the generator to the different relay device.
A relay device manages service usage by users, differentiating between local and remote users. When a client requests a service, the device checks if the user is local. If local, it retrieves pre-allocated usage amounts. If remote, it requests a usage allocation from another relay device. Upon receiving an allocation from the remote device, it generates return information based on the allocated amount and the service usage. This return information is then sent back to the remote relay device, presumably for tracking or billing.
2. The relay device according to claim 1 , wherein the allocation request sender sends request information requesting a usage amount greater than a usage amount indicated by the usage amount information included in the use request received by the use request receiver to the different relay device.
The relay device as described above sends a request for more service usage than initially indicated in the client's request to the remote relay device. This allows the device to potentially buffer usage, or optimize service delivery over time, providing the user with headroom beyond their exact request, and preemptively requesting for more to avoid latency issues.
3. The relay device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a cache table configured to store the allocated amount information received by the allocated amount receiver from the different relay device.
The relay device as described above includes a cache table to store the allocated amount information received from other relay devices. This caching mechanism helps the device to quickly access and manage service allocations, avoiding repeated requests to other relay devices and improving overall performance and response times by storing the allocated amount from a remote relay device for future use.
4. The relay device according to claim 1 , wherein the service providing device performs the service in compliance with the use request and the allocated amount information.
In the above relay setup, the service providing device delivers the service based on both the initial use request from the client and the allocated amount information supplied by the relay device. This coordination ensures that service delivery adheres to the allocated usage limits and that the service can verify that the relay device has proper authorization.
5. A relay device comprising: a memory configured to store usage amount information indicating a maximum usage amount of a service; a use request receiver configured to receive a use request to use a service to be provided by a service providing device from a client device; a use request sender configured to send, in response to receiving the use request from the client device, a use request to a service providing device; a determiner configured to determine whether a user who requests the use request belongs to the relay device; an allocation request receiver configured to receive an allocation request to allocate a usage amount of service from a different relay device; an allocated amount sender configured to send, in a case in which the user belongs to the relay device, allocated amount information indicating an allocated usage amount, which is the entirety or part of the maximum usage amount indicated by the usage amount information stored in the memory, to the different relay device in response to the allocation request received by the allocation request receiver; a return information receiver configured to receive return information from the different relay device; and a processor configured to update the usage amount information stored in the memory in accordance with the return information received by the return information receiver and a result of processing by the service providing device based on the use request.
A relay device manages service usage by tracking a maximum allowed usage amount in its memory. When a client requests a service, it forwards the request to the service provider. The device determines if the user belongs to it. If so, and another relay requests usage allocation, it sends part or all of its maximum allowed usage. It then receives return information from the requesting relay and updates its remaining usage based on this return and service provider data, acting as a local service usage manager.
6. The relay device according to claim 5 , wherein: the allocated amount sender performs a subtract operation for subtracting the allocated usage amount indicated by the allocated amount information from the maximum usage amount indicated by the usage amount information stored in the memory, and stores a usage amount obtained as a result of the subtract operation in the memory as the usage amount information; and the processor adds a usage amount indicated by the return information received by the return information receiver to the maximum usage amount indicated by the usage amount information stored in the memory.
The relay device updates its usage amount as follows: when allocating usage to another relay, it subtracts the allocated amount from its maximum allowed usage stored in memory, updating the memory. When it receives return information from that relay, it adds the indicated usage amount back to its maximum usage in memory. This allows it to keep track of what it has allocated and what has been returned, thereby managing its overall usage limit correctly.
7. The relay device according to claim 5 , wherein: the allocated amount sender stores the allocated amount information in the memory; and the processor performs a subtract operation for subtracting a usage amount indicated by the return information received by the return information receiver from the allocated usage amount indicated by the allocated amount information stored in the memory, and subtracts a usage amount obtained as a result of the subtract operation from the maximum usage amount indicated by the usage amount information stored in the memory.
The relay device stores the allocated amount information in memory, along with the overall maximum usage. Upon receiving return information, it subtracts the usage indicated by the return information from the previously allocated amount stored in memory. The resulting difference is then subtracted from the overall maximum usage also stored in memory.
8. The relay device according to claim 5 , wherein the service providing device performs the service in compliance with the use request and the allocated amount information.
In the above relay device description, the service providing device delivers the service based on both the initial use request and the allocated amount information provided by the relay. This enables the service provider to ensure the relay device authorizes service usage by the client, and the service is only carried out with confirmed authorized limits.
9. A system comprising: a first relay device; and a second relay device, the first relay device including a first use request receiver configured to receive a first use request to use a first service to be provided by a first service providing device from a first client device, a first determiner configured to determine whether a first user who requests the first use request belongs to the first relay device; an allocation amount information obtainer configured to obtain, in a case in which the first user belongs to the first relay device, first allocation amount information stored in the first relay device; an allocation request sender configured to send, in a case in which the user does not belong to the first relay device, a first allocation request to allocate a first usage amount of the first service based on an amount indicated by first usage amount information specified by the first use request received by the first use request receiver to a first different relay device, a first allocated amount receiver configured to receive first allocated amount information indicating a first allocated usage amount for the first service sent from the first different relay device in response to the first allocation request, a generator configured to generate return information from the first allocated amount information received from the allocated amount receiver and the first usage amount of the first service, and a return information sender configured to send the return information generated by the generator to the first different relay device, the second relay device including a memory configured to store second usage amount information indicating a maximum usage amount of a second service, a second use request receiver configured to receive a second use request to use a second service to be provided by a second service providing device from a second client device; a use request sender configured to send, in response to receiving the second use request from the second client device, a third use request to the second service providing device; a second determiner configured to determine whether a second user who requests the second use request belongs to the second relay device an allocation request receiver configured to receive a second allocation request to allocate a second usage amount of the second service from a second different relay device, an allocated amount sender configured to send, in a case in which the second user belongs to the second relay device, second allocated amount information indicating a second allocated usage amount, which is the entirety or part of the maximum usage amount indicated by the second usage amount information stored in the memory, to the second different relay device in response to the second allocation request received by the allocation request receiver, a return information receiver configured to receive second return information from the second different relay device, and a processor configured to updates the second usage amount information stored in the memory in accordance with the second return information received by the return information receiver and a result of processing by the second service providing device based on the second use request.
A system contains two relay devices. The first receives service requests from clients, determines if a user belongs to it, obtains local allocation data if so, otherwise requests allocation from the second relay. It then generates return information to send back to the second relay, updating the second relay device with the correct usage. The second relay stores maximum service usage, forwards client service requests, determines if a user belongs to it, and allocates usage to the first relay if requested. It updates its stored usage based on return information and service provider data from the first relay.
10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein: the first different relay device is the second relay device; and the second different relay device is the first relay device.
In the system described above with two relay devices, the "different relay device" referred to by the first relay is specifically the second relay, and the "different relay device" referred to by the second relay is specifically the first relay. This means the two devices directly exchange allocation requests and usage information with each other.
11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the first relay device further includes a cache table configured to store the allocated amount information received by the allocated amount receiver from the first different relay device.
The first relay device described above contains a cache table to store the allocated amount information received from the second relay device. This allows the first relay to quickly access and manage service allocations, avoiding repeated requests to the second relay and improving overall performance.
12. The relay device according to claim 9 , wherein: the first service providing device performs the first service in compliance with the first use request and the first allocated amount information, and the second service providing device performs the second service in compliance with the second use request and the second allocated amount information.
In the above system consisting of two relay devices, the first service provider provides its service based on the first client's use request and the first relay device's allocated amount information. Likewise, the second service provider provides its service based on the second client's use request and the second relay device's allocated amount information.
13. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process, the process comprising: receiving a use request to use a service to be provided by a service providing device from a client device; determining whether a user who requests the use request belongs to a relay device; obtaining, in a case in which the user belongs to the relay device, allocation amount information stored in the relay device; sending, in a case in which the user does not belong to the relay device, an allocation request to allocate a usage amount of the service based on a usage amount indicated by usage amount information specified by the received use request to a different relay device; receiving allocated amount information indicating an allocated usage amount for the service sent from the different relay device in response to the allocation request; generating return information from the received allocated amount information and a usage amount of the service; and sending the generated return information to the different relay device.
A computer-readable medium stores instructions to implement a service usage relay. The process involves receiving a client's request to use a service, determining if the user is local. If the user is local, the process retrieves allocation data. If not, it requests usage allocation from another relay device, receives allocation information, generates usage return information, and sends that return information to the remote relay device for service management.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , the process further comprising: providing the service by the service providing device in compliance with the use request and the allocated amount information.
The computer readable medium, implementing a service usage relay as described above, also contains instructions to allow a service providing device to perform the service according to the original user request and in compliance with the allocated amount information which confirms the relay device's authorization.
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process, the computer including a memory that stores usage amount information indicating a maximum usage amount of a service, the process comprising: receiving a use request to use a service to be provided by a service providing device from a client device; sending, in response to receiving the use request from the client device, a use request to a service providing device; determining whether a user who requests the use request belongs to a relay device; receiving an allocation request to allocate a usage amount of service from a different relay device; sending, in a case in which the user belongs to the relay device, allocated amount information indicating an allocated usage amount, which is the entirety or part of the maximum usage amount indicated by the usage amount information stored in the memory, to the different relay device in response to the received allocation request; receiving return information from the different relay device; and updating the usage amount information stored in the memory in accordance with the received return information and a result of processing by the service providing device based on the use request.
A computer-readable medium stores instructions for a relay device to manage service usage, using a stored maximum usage amount. It receives a client service request, forwards it to the service provider. It checks if the user is local. If a remote relay requests allocation, it sends part/all of the maximum allowed usage. Finally, the medium stores instructions for receiving return information and updating the stored maximum usage, maintaining an accurate record of what has been allocated and used.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 15 , the process further comprising: providing the service by the service providing device in compliance with the use request and the allocated amount information.
The computer readable medium, implementing a service usage relay as described above also includes instructions to ensure the service providing device delivers the service in accordance with the client's request and the allocated amount information, therefore only providing services for authenticated users and within authorized limits.
Unknown
October 10, 2017
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.